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Independent Publishing is here, it’s real, and it is now a business. And any proper business needs proper marketing. No product on this planet will sell just by “sitting” there. It has to look good, and consumers need to become aware of it. Including YOUR book.

The road to selling your book begins with a few steps.

Below is a comprehensive marketing checklist for indie authors, as laid out by the guys at Indie Author Counsel.

These points are vital for any independent author setting out on his or her publishing journey.

Book Marketing Checklist

BOOK MARKETING FOR INDIE AUTHORS

Q: I’m writing a self-help guide; what marketing activities should I be starting now, before publication?

A: Building your author platform is the first step to find your readers. Go to our website www.IndieAuthorCounsel.com and visit the Marketing Tips page to download your Free Book Marketing Checklist.

The goal is to create and launch a platform that quickly communicates your genre and entertainment value if you’re writing fiction, and your expertise and credibility if you’re writing non-fiction, such as your self-help guide.

Build your bio – Succinctly tell people about you and your work, including credentials, credits and awards. Turn it into a one-pager to use in your book, whenever you pitch your book, in your publicity package, on Amazon Author Central and on your website.

Author website – You need a hub, a place to connect with your audience, offer free information and excerpts of your book, and sell your book and other services. If you use a blog-based site, such as WordPress.org, which is easy to set up and use, you don’t need an expensive setup or a webmaster to update your site – you can get going immediately.

Author blog – Your blog could be separate or a page of your website. It’s an important place to connect, enlighten, entertain, and capture a following of readers interested in learning more about you, your topic and your books.

A signup list – Create a list of future readers by offering a free excerpt of your work, a newsletter, eBook, or video/audio product on your website/blog. This allows you to start building a list of people who are interested in your book or product. Check out Aweber or Mail Chimp to handle your lists, emails, auto responders, and newsletters.

Follow other blogs – Stay up-to-date with the latest information in the industry and to leave comments that establish your platform.

Join professional associations – Seek out and join ones related to your topic, target audience or professional goals.

Establish your expert status – Teach through workshops, online webinars, podcasts and/or videos, in-person speaking engagements, articles using tips from your book to industry publications and other print and online media sources. This provides you the ability to establish yourself as an expert, and market your book in the author’s information box.

If you have already started writing, it’s never too early to start building your Author Platform. Visit www.IndieAuthorCounsel.com and go to the Marketing Tips page to download your Free Book Marketing Checklist.

Please consider us for all of your Editing needs and tell your friends and colleagues how we can help.

While you’re writing your novel, you are a creator. A wordsmith. An artist. But, as soon as that novel’s finished, you’re about to take the next step in publishing business. Yes, you’re becoming not just an author, but an entrepreneur. You are creating a product that has to contend with literally thousands of other products.

Can you, as author, afford for your product – your work of art – to be any less than visible or desirable? No.

What is one of the key selling points of any product? The packaging.

What is a book’s packaging? The cover.

So, what’s the purpose of a cover? Many writers will say: “To get customers to pick up the book, or click on the download button.” This is true. BUT, if the customer is to pick up or click and read the book’s summary, and realize that the cover and story have nothing to do with one another, then back goes book to shelf, or, the next ebook is clicked on. You lose a sale.

Yes, the cover must entice the customer. But the full purpose of a book’s cover is to:

Get the customer to notice the book;

Pick up or click on the book;

Buy the book;

Read the book;

Talk about the book;

Repeat for next customer.

If your name is “Stephen King”, then that book can have a blank cover with his name, and it will sell. But until you reach such status, your name is not yet known, so your book’s title and cover art alone carries the day.

So where do you start? You start by pretending you’re telling someone why they should buy your book. Point out the book’s strengths, its genre, its core, what it’s about and what makes it tick. These elements are your unique selling points, and should be conveyed through your title and cover art. And the ultimate purpose is to precipitate an emotional response from your customer. And the outcome? A sale. This is exactly why a professional designer is needed.

Starting to re-realize the importance of your book’s cover? You should. Because it’s not just about a pretty cover anymore, is it?

A good cover will reinforce the customer’s initial attraction. We also do this by adding blurbs – which will tell the customer; “Yes, you have made a good choice, and this blurb rewards your decision, as the book is THAT good.” Every detail on a cover must be thought out and planned. Even the placement of the title and writer’s name is extremely important. Again, this is exactly why a professional designer is needed.

Look at your current book’s cover. And if you don’t yet have one, then think about book packages that work for you. Are all the elements of the cover presenting accurately, attractively and powerfully the appeal of the book?

So, in designing your product’s package, or, framing your work of art, realize the importance of your book’s cover. You must not just want a pretty cover – your book deserves a professionally designed package that will represent you, your story and product congruently.

And YES, you can get an exclusively designed cover by an industry professional for your book:

And JH Illustration is LIVE! Due to popular demand, and a boom in business, I have separated JH Illustration from my main website www.jeaninehenning.com to streamline my services. AND – to open communication with my clients, and future clients!

Indie Authors – I did it for you!

Competition is increasing by the day (literally). There’s way over 700 000 self published authors out there. The number in indie books is growing. And making sure authors find the right artist to do their book justice – is becoming more and more important. And here I am – ready to help you create a cover that will stand out!